352 Report of the Transactions of the Academy of 



well known in science, and reject such names as Devil, Vam- 

 pyre, Sec, which may well be associated together, as names cal- 

 culated to repel those who are disposed to admire the beauties 

 of nature and who have an inclination to cultivate scientific na- 

 tural iiistory. How tar preferable is the custom of applying 

 the names of those naturalists who have enriched science with 

 new discoveries, or new and valuable observations, to that 

 which introduces into our pages those chimeras that do not 

 elsewhere exist than in a morbid or timorous imagination ?" 



It has frequently happened that, from the great scarcity or 

 shyness of certain animals, they have remained undiscovered 

 for a length of time, even in spots to which naturalists have 

 frequently resorted. Of this we find a new instance in the 

 discovery lately made known to the Academy by Mr. Gilliams, 

 who has described a very beautiful species of .Scofo/»s/5 caught 

 by him in tlie neighbourhood of this city. Mr. Gilliams has 

 as yet seen but three individuals of this species, which he has 

 dedicated to his friend Mr. Say. 



The last communication in ichthyology which the Aca- 

 demy received was from Mi*. William W. Wood, and is en- 

 titled " Descriptions of four new species of the Linnoean genus 

 Blennius, and of a new Exocetus." This paper has not yet 

 been reported upon to the Academy : we therefore refrain from 

 making any comments upon its objects, but we may congratu- 

 late the Academy upon the first scientific production of Mr. 

 Wood, who, notwithstanding his youth, has cultivated science 

 with such zeal and success, as to give promise of great useful- 

 ness. Though not yet a member, we may, in a measure, 

 claim for this institution the merit of having formed this young 

 naturalist, since it is chiefly by intercourse with our members, 

 access to our library, and attendaiice at our meetmgs, that his 

 taste and talent for science have been developed. 



Itisecta. — Mr. Say has contiimed, during the last year, his 

 useful investigations of American insects. The reputation which 

 he has acquired, both at liome and abroad, as the most correct 

 American entomologist, imparts great value to every thing 

 which the Academy receives at his hands. A long communi- 

 cation, received from him this year, includes the " Descriptions 

 of the new species of Hemipterous insects, collected during 

 the expedition to the Rocky Mountains." This expedition, 

 so useful by the information which it has furnished in all the 

 departments of science, enabled Mr. Say to discover hundreds 

 of insects, inhabitants of our countrj', and which were alto- 

 gether unknown to naturalists. Of the family of the He- 

 inij)tera alone we have forty new species. This paper is as j'et 

 unpublished. 



Mollusca. — 



